On Monday night, three students lost their lives and five others were left in critical condition during a campus shooting that authorities believe was carried out by 43-year-old Anthony McRae.
The shooting only ended when McRae turned the gun on himself. Michael McRae, the shooter’s father, has commented on his son’s behavior, saying that he became “evil and mean” after the death of his mother, Linda, who passed away on September 13, 2020, after suffering a stroke.
According to Michael McRae, his son’s attitude and perspective on life changed drastically after his mother’s death. He said that his son had become increasingly bitter, angry, and had let himself go.
His physical appearance had deteriorated, with his teeth falling out and his hair uncut, making him look like a “wolf man.” Michael McRae stated that his son had been very close to Linda and had a sibling-like relationship with her.
After her death, he quit his warehouse job and spent most of his time playing video games in his room.
According to Michael McRae, his son was struggling to cope with the death of his mother and became increasingly bitter and unpleasant.
He explained that Anthony McRae’s behavior changed dramatically after his mother’s passing, and he no longer cared about anything. Michael, who had been married to Linda for 45 years, attempted to encourage his son to seek counseling, apply for jobs, and attend church with him.
He offered to help him if he needed it, but Anthony refused his father’s assistance and assured him that he was fine. Michael McRae stated that he is a man of faith who reads the Bible daily and attempted to be a good father to all three of his children, including Anthony.
He acknowledged that Anthony had been a good kid, but that he never could have predicted that his son would commit such a terrible act.
Anthony McRae has been identified by Chris Rozman, Interim Deputy Chief with the Michigan State University Department of Public Safety, as the suspect responsible for the mass shooting that occurred on the MSU campus on February 13.
The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of three students and left five others injured. McRae allegedly carried out the attack without any known affiliation to the university, and his motive remains unclear. Michael McRae, Anthony’s father, speculated that his son may have targeted the school because he had attempted to apply for a job there.
In June 2019, Anthony McRae was stopped by Lansing police while smoking on the back steps of a building. During the encounter, officers found a Ruger LCP .380 semi-automatic pistol in his pants pocket, and he was subsequently charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a loaded firearm.
He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge and was sentenced to probation, which he completed in May 2021. Michael McRae was unaware of how his son obtained the firearm or why he felt the need to have one.
Despite Anthony promising to get rid of the gun, he did not dispose of it, and his father was unable to enter his room to verify its removal.
